Federico Finchelstein
@finchelsteinf.bsky.social
Federico Finchelstein. Historian & Immigrant. 8 books on fascists & populists. Words
@clarincom @washingtonpost @folha @Domanigiornale
@Latinoamerica21
@clarincom @washingtonpost @folha @Domanigiornale
@Latinoamerica21
A clear defeat from Trumpism in yesterday's elections. The fascist aspiration to fascism can be stopped!
November 5, 2025 at 1:05 PM
A clear defeat from Trumpism in yesterday's elections. The fascist aspiration to fascism can be stopped!
And of course, mini-Trump Milei did thank Trump, his sponsor and benefactor, after "their" big electoral victory. But what about American Tax payers who footed the bill? not so much appreciation...
October 27, 2025 at 3:28 PM
And of course, mini-Trump Milei did thank Trump, his sponsor and benefactor, after "their" big electoral victory. But what about American Tax payers who footed the bill? not so much appreciation...
Just months ago, Milei had lost with a difference of 14% in province of Buenos Aires (the key district). Today he is winning there too... 40% of all votes at the national level. A weird Trump win without question. Trump maybe more popular in Argentina than in the US.
October 27, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Just months ago, Milei had lost with a difference of 14% in province of Buenos Aires (the key district). Today he is winning there too... 40% of all votes at the national level. A weird Trump win without question. Trump maybe more popular in Argentina than in the US.
It looks as if Milei is doing a truly great election today in all of Argentina. His change of fortune happened after the Trumpist election meddling. So he has Trump to thank. But also American tax payers who will foot the bill.
October 27, 2025 at 12:27 AM
It looks as if Milei is doing a truly great election today in all of Argentina. His change of fortune happened after the Trumpist election meddling. So he has Trump to thank. But also American tax payers who will foot the bill.
The idea is to deny basic facts about how democracy was defended & fictionally rewrite not only the history of the failed coup of Jan 6 but also now Watergate. What's next? the Nuremberg trials or any other attempt to make the rule of law prevail over fascists and authoritarians?
October 13, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The idea is to deny basic facts about how democracy was defended & fictionally rewrite not only the history of the failed coup of Jan 6 but also now Watergate. What's next? the Nuremberg trials or any other attempt to make the rule of law prevail over fascists and authoritarians?
It was such an honor to deliver the keynote for the Walter Benjamin 11th international conference at Port Bou, Spain. This is the town where Benjamin committed suicide after learning of his impending expulsion from Spain and delivery to the Nazis.
www.lavanguardia.com/vida/2025092...
www.lavanguardia.com/vida/2025092...
October 6, 2025 at 1:56 PM
It was such an honor to deliver the keynote for the Walter Benjamin 11th international conference at Port Bou, Spain. This is the town where Benjamin committed suicide after learning of his impending expulsion from Spain and delivery to the Nazis.
www.lavanguardia.com/vida/2025092...
www.lavanguardia.com/vida/2025092...
New Book on fascism & populism! "This volume brings together leading international experts. The starting point is Argentine historian Federico Finchelstein’s assertion that the dynamics of transnational fascism and populist movements become clearer when viewed from the margins."
September 20, 2025 at 9:19 PM
New Book on fascism & populism! "This volume brings together leading international experts. The starting point is Argentine historian Federico Finchelstein’s assertion that the dynamics of transnational fascism and populist movements become clearer when viewed from the margins."
Fascism is always on the extreme right. Example: Mussolini on Communists.
September 17, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Fascism is always on the extreme right. Example: Mussolini on Communists.
Facts. Fascists, and wannabe fascists, denounce persecution while unleashing persecution. it. They imagine that all actions in defense of the law and democracy are part of a conspiracy against them. In short, they ascribe lies to their enemies while becoming masters of lies.
May 16, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Facts. Fascists, and wannabe fascists, denounce persecution while unleashing persecution. it. They imagine that all actions in defense of the law and democracy are part of a conspiracy against them. In short, they ascribe lies to their enemies while becoming masters of lies.
Fascists and Populists between Past and Present...my talk today at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras...
April 15, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Fascists and Populists between Past and Present...my talk today at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras...
Fascist leaders were presented as being from, by, and for the people, but they never truly did what a majority of the people wanted. On the contrary, they asserted that they were permanently ruling for transcendental reasons and causes.
April 4, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Fascist leaders were presented as being from, by, and for the people, but they never truly did what a majority of the people wanted. On the contrary, they asserted that they were permanently ruling for transcendental reasons and causes.
Fascism is formulated on the basis of a modern idea of popular power, but one in which political representation is eliminated and power is fully delegated to the dictator, who acts in the name of the people.
April 1, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Fascism is formulated on the basis of a modern idea of popular power, but one in which political representation is eliminated and power is fully delegated to the dictator, who acts in the name of the people.
Destroying democracy will in turn destroy civil society, political tolerance, and pluralism, followed by the gradual or rapid dismantling of the law, the separation of powers, electoral procedures, and the independent press
April 1, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Destroying democracy will in turn destroy civil society, political tolerance, and pluralism, followed by the gradual or rapid dismantling of the law, the separation of powers, electoral procedures, and the independent press
Mussolini fascinated media & even those journalists who were supposed to provide critical information about his dictatorship rather than propping up its international & national legitimacy. Readers of the New York Times were informed that the Italian people needed dictatorship.
March 31, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Mussolini fascinated media & even those journalists who were supposed to provide critical information about his dictatorship rather than propping up its international & national legitimacy. Readers of the New York Times were informed that the Italian people needed dictatorship.
Many mini-Hitlers or little Mussolinis tried to become the inheritors of something that in principle was not transferable. In a sense, fascist dictators were sterile: they could not procreate successors. The power of this kind of ruler could not be contained, much less passed on.
March 29, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Many mini-Hitlers or little Mussolinis tried to become the inheritors of something that in principle was not transferable. In a sense, fascist dictators were sterile: they could not procreate successors. The power of this kind of ruler could not be contained, much less passed on.
One problem that arises from extremely personalized fascist dictatorship is the problem of succession. In justifying the legitimacy of the dictator as political religion, fascists can never easily transfer the charismatic natuof their unique transcendental leadership.
March 29, 2025 at 8:13 PM
One problem that arises from extremely personalized fascist dictatorship is the problem of succession. In justifying the legitimacy of the dictator as political religion, fascists can never easily transfer the charismatic natuof their unique transcendental leadership.
Many fascists rejected the word dictatorship because it traditionally had negative associations w/ tyranny & despotism, words they associated with egalitarianism, liberalism, Judaism & communism. However, they all agreed fascism was a form of one-person absolute & permanent rule
March 29, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Many fascists rejected the word dictatorship because it traditionally had negative associations w/ tyranny & despotism, words they associated with egalitarianism, liberalism, Judaism & communism. However, they all agreed fascism was a form of one-person absolute & permanent rule
Fanaticism and feelings of deep political love can replace critical thinking. Some supporters seem unconvinced that their leaders have done any of the things they are accused of; when presented with irrefutable evidence, they say whatever he did wasn’t wrong. Followers are not meant to ask questions
March 28, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Fanaticism and feelings of deep political love can replace critical thinking. Some supporters seem unconvinced that their leaders have done any of the things they are accused of; when presented with irrefutable evidence, they say whatever he did wasn’t wrong. Followers are not meant to ask questions
For followers, the attachment to the leader seems so secure that it transcends transgressions or failed promises and justifies the leader’s most offensive and illegal acts. Wannabe Fascists, p. 77
March 28, 2025 at 12:04 PM
For followers, the attachment to the leader seems so secure that it transcends transgressions or failed promises and justifies the leader’s most offensive and illegal acts. Wannabe Fascists, p. 77
The Manufacturing of Violence. We can see this in practice through the cult of the leader & his violent rhetoric & actions that sometimes resemble acts of war. Although it was presented as spontaneous, this violence was, in fact, planned.
March 25, 2025 at 10:02 PM
The Manufacturing of Violence. We can see this in practice through the cult of the leader & his violent rhetoric & actions that sometimes resemble acts of war. Although it was presented as spontaneous, this violence was, in fact, planned.
I wrote a new preface to the Spanish edition of my book Wannabe Fascists/Aspirantes a fascistas...to be published in a few months...
@penguinlibros.bsky.social
@penguinlibros.bsky.social
March 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
I wrote a new preface to the Spanish edition of my book Wannabe Fascists/Aspirantes a fascistas...to be published in a few months...
@penguinlibros.bsky.social
@penguinlibros.bsky.social
In Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler famously represented himself as “the supreme judge of the Nation.” The most important Nazi legal theorist, Carl Schmitt, claimed in 1934 that the Fuhrer was the embodiment of the “most authentic jurisdiction"
March 18, 2025 at 4:25 PM
In Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler famously represented himself as “the supreme judge of the Nation.” The most important Nazi legal theorist, Carl Schmitt, claimed in 1934 that the Fuhrer was the embodiment of the “most authentic jurisdiction"
It is of course a tenet of any democracy that there is no relation between winning elections (big wins or even by small margins at it was the case of Trump) and having a say in legality. Only fascists claim that the legitimacy of power is more important than legality
March 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
It is of course a tenet of any democracy that there is no relation between winning elections (big wins or even by small margins at it was the case of Trump) and having a say in legality. Only fascists claim that the legitimacy of power is more important than legality
Milei and the Jews?Milei y los judios...a conversation panel today at Brandeis University
March 18, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Milei and the Jews?Milei y los judios...a conversation panel today at Brandeis University
In Nazism this was called the Führerprinzip, which meant that everything Hitler wanted was legitimate and beyond the rule of law. Just saying..
February 16, 2025 at 6:23 PM
In Nazism this was called the Führerprinzip, which meant that everything Hitler wanted was legitimate and beyond the rule of law. Just saying..